§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent measures her Department has taken to protect against flooding in the Vale of York. [170009]
§ Mr. MorleyDecisions on which projects are promoted and their timing rests with the operating authorities.
Within the Vale of York constituency, the Environment Agency has recently improved protection at Boroughbridge and restored flood defences at Rawcliffe which were damaged following the floods in autumn 2000. They are also promoting a series of flood warning improvements in the region.
A number of long-term strategies looking at ways to reduce flood risks are being promoted by EA; included are studies on the rivers Ouse, Nidd and Ure.
Defra regional engineers are assisting Hambleton district council with studies into looking at options to reduce the flood risk from Cod Beck in Thirsk. If these studies should result in a project meeting our standard criteria, Defra will consider it for grant aid.
Finally, Rawcliffe IDB has looked into flood risks at Blue Beck and have introduced (in co-operation with York city council) a programme of maintenance to reduce the build up of debris at key installations.